Our recent experiences are anything but "normal." These experiences are traumatic, and lawyers are not invincible to trauma. Lawyers have unique pressures to control the situation and have all the answers. But the truth is, we are in a time of great uncertainty, and meanwhile, our support networks are fragmented. It's easy to "cope" with the chaos by self-medicating, falling back on old habits, and burying yourself in work. This CLE will explore ways to truly cope and rebuild a strong foundation for your well-being through self-monitoring, stress and anxiety management, and self-care.
Barbara Mardigian
Deputy Clinical Director
Virginia Judges and Lawyers Assistance Program
Barbara has worked in the field of addiction since 1997. She received her Master's degree from MCV in Rehabilitation Counseling in 1997 and became a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in 2004. She has worked in a variety of settings, including Intensive Outpatient, Residential, private practice, and with the first Health Professional Monitoring Program in Virginia as the Director of Intake Services. Most recently, as the Executive Director of an Intensive Outpatient treatment facility in Richmond. She worked for the Farley Center from 2010-2016 as a lead clinician in their professionals program, having experience working with lawyers, physicians, and CEO's as well as high ranking military individuals. She has been with Virginia Judges and Lawyers Assistance Program since September 2019 as the Deputy Clinical Director.
Margaret Hannapel Ogden
Wellness Coordinator
Supreme Court of Virginia
As the Wellness Coordinator in the Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia, Margaret Hannapel Ogden is dedicated to improving mental health and addressing substance abuse in the legal profession through education, regulation, and outreach. A lawyer by training, Margaret began her career in the Roanoke City Commonwealth Attorney's Office before entering private practice to defend criminal cases throughout the Roanoke and New River Valleys. Immediately prior to joining the Virginia Lawyers' Wellness Initiative, she served as the Staff Attorney for the Pennsylvania Interbranch Commission for Gender, Racial and Ethnic Fairness, where she analyzed policy, drafted and commented on proposed rules and legislation, and advised judges and attorneys on best practices for addressing bias in the state court system. A native of Washington, D.C., Margaret graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Maryland's College of Behavioral and Social Sciences. She earned her J.D. from Washington & Lee School of Law in 2011. When not traveling around the Commonwealth discussing attorney well-being, you can find Margaret walking in Richmond's Fan neighborhood with her husband, Nathan, and their dogs, Jackson and Tilda.
Clarissa Pintado
Attorney
Fiske Law Group
Clarissa Pintado, Esq. is the Chair of the Alexandria Lawyer Well-Being Committee. In addition to leading the Committee, she is an active volunteer with Lawyers Helping Lawyers. Ms. Pintado recently served on the Board of Directors for the Alexandria Bar Association and as Past President of the Foundation of the Alexandria Bar Association. She served on the Board of the Alexandria Boys and Girls Club. Ms. Pintado represents individuals and corporations in estate and business litigation as an Associate Attorney with the Fiske Law Group, PLLC. She has experience in federal and state courts in addition to international arbitration forums, including the International Chamber of Commerce. Ms. Pintado joined the Fiske Law Group after a judicial clerkship for the 18th Judicial Circuit of Virginia for the Alexandria Circuit Court serving Hon. Judges Lisa Bondareff Kemler, Nolan Dawkins, and James Clark. She previously worked for the Public International Law & Policy Group implementing constitution drafting and peace negotiation programs in the Middle East and East Africa.
